Members of the three main unions representing Louvre staff - the CFDT, CGT and SUD - voted on Monday to call a strike from Monday, December 15th.
The strike note is reconductible (renewable), which means that staff can either take continuous strike action from December 15th, or can decide on strikes on certain days without having to provide advance notice or take another vote.
The action is in protest at degrading working condition, an issue that has long been flagged up by staff representatives.
In a joint letter addressed to Culture Minister Rachida Dati on Monday, the unions wrote that parts of the Louvre were being regularly closed because of "insufficient staff numbers as well as technical failures and the building's ageing condition".
"The public now has only limited access to the artworks and has trouble moving around. A visit to the Louvre has become a real obstacle course," they added, according to a copy seen by AFP.
The unions denounced worsening working conditions for staff and insufficient resources.
It is not yet clear whether the strike will cause the museum to close completely, or offer a reduced service or reduced opening times from Monday. Unlike staff in sectors such as rail or air traffic control, museum workers are not required to give 48 hours' notice of their intention to strike.
Anyone with tickets booked for the Louvre is advised to check the website on the morning of their visit for the latest information.
The Louvre was forced to shut temporarily on June 16th this year after gallery attendants, ticket agents and security personnel organised a spontaneous walk-out over what they see as understaffing and overcrowding.
The strike tops off a terrible year for the Paris landmark.
At the end of November it was revealed that a severe water leak had damaged up to 400 exhibits in the Ancient Egyptian wing, while earlier in the month the Louvre was forced to close the Campana Gallery after an audit revealed structural weaknesses in the roof.
In October the museum made headlines around the world when thieves smashed their way in and stole the crown jewels, with an estimated value of €88 million.
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